The Sustainable Land Management Business Forum (SLMBF) yesterday announced the Ankara Business Declaration which aims to achieve a land degradation neutral world by 2030.
The business forum said land degradation translates into losses for businesses because of reduced productivity and higher costs, and also increases risks related to market access.
M Rifat Hisarciklioglu, president of the SLMBF, made the announcement at a press conference at the 12th conference of the parties (COP12) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) being held in Ankara, Turkey.
The objective of land degradation neutrality (LDN) is to maintain or even improve the amount of healthy and productive land resources over time and in line with national sustainable development priorities.
Rifat said coordinated global efforts are required to halt and reverse land degradation, restore degraded ecosystems and manage land resources sustainably.
“The right institutional, political and legal frameworks accompanied by economic incentives can allow the global community to achieve land degradation neutrality. While the participation of all stakeholders is critical to success, the private sector has the resources and technological know-how that is needed for large scale investments and concrete action on the ground,” he said.
He said by bringing forth innovative solutions, businesses can significantly contribute to the transformation of the economies to become land degradation neutral.
The declaration considers business risks from land degradation to be manifold, affecting businesses directly and indirectly through economic, social and environmental factors.
“… Sustainable land management practices allow land assets to reach their full productivity potential hence presenting positive outcomes for both businesses and other stakeholders,” the declaration reads.
The declaration says tackling land degradation requires unprecedented collaboration between all stakeholders – business, government and society.
“This declaration is an initial step towards implementing land degradation neutrality and needs to be supported by real action on the ground by all parties. We call on all companies to join us in our collaborative effort to implement sustainable land management practices and land restoration. Our next steps will be critical in materialising the transition to a sustainable global economy,” the document reads.
Violaine Berger, president of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said businesses have a key role to play in how land is managed across the globe.
The WBCSD is a CEO-led organisation of companies working to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment.
“Ankara has provided a unified view to achieve the LDN 2030 goal. Business needs government and government needs business. So, I think both will work hand in hand to achieve the target,” she said.